I had issues with my Valentine V1
It didn't seem to go off around those movable police radar check points. The one that says speed is 55 your going 105. I think is is a K-band radar. Well mine wasn't going off and others did.
So I sent it in, and hopefully it works now. Won't know till I get it out on the road.
What I did do, is upgrade the V1 to this POP mode.
Not to sure what POP is and if any cops even use it. I believe its a two band radar that is an instant on radar.

So did I waste the $75 for this upgrade, or was this a smart thing to do.

Either way its done and Valentine was easy to work with. I still have my jammer for laser too.

Any thought to this POP radar?

aquatic

 

So your leading to the Dragon this year then right!

I still have my old BEL. Works ok for the most part. Saved me quite a few times. So I guess I can't complain.

 

You should have spent another $200 and bought a X50.

That's mighty expensive for a firmware update. They really know how to bend you over to make extra money on software that ACTUALLY may be fixing their own bugs.

Funny, how a company can send units out that work, but then try to sell you an update that fixes hidden bugs as well.

Anyways,.......................we can see who's radar goes of first on the way to the Dragon, but we'll let you lead Keith!

 

naseeb- I'm not sure I follow your logic. I've followed the V1 / Cincinnati Microwave debate since the early 80's when Mike Valentine pioneered the first Escort Radar Receiver. I've owned several V1's and 8500's. Currently, I run two V1's with POP version 3.826---one in my car and one in my wife's.

They are both great units and work incredibly well compared to the Cobra, Whistler, Uniden crap. That said, the ability to upgrade my V1 for $75 seems like a STEAL! If I have to "upgrade" my 8500, I have to buy an entirely new unit for $299, or now they have the model with the GPS feature (9500i) that goes for $450.

I don't want to knock Cincinnati Microwave (now nicknamed "Belscort" since they bought Bel); however, I've spent $75 in the last 5 years to upgrade my V1. The original 8500 I had was replaced by the X50. To "upgrade" that, I have to buy a NEW x50. That's when I fired Cincinnati Microwave.

Both manufactures must realize that their units are nearly functionally equivalent---see radarbusters.com or radardetector.net. Suddenly, they need to differentiate themselves on something other than the very marginal difference in performance and features. Further, Bel has the RX 65 and STi that are also as good, if not better, than the Cincinnati Microwave offerings. My point: offer an "upgrade" for a reasonable price, or lose a customer---that was my thought.

So, in five years, I spent $475 on the V1. To do the same with the Passport, I would have had to spend $299 for the original unit and $299 for the "upgraded" unit. Finally, I'd never would have had the wonderful arrows that make the V1 so nice to have. I guess to my way of thinking, the V1 is light years ahead...

YMMV...

Shumax

 

Shumax....to highlight one of the last things you mentioned, the arrows. Once you've gotten accustom to them, you don't ever want to lose them

Bring on the upgrades, as long as I know where the cop is, I'll buy into the upgrade/bug fixes.

 

Maybe the last upgrade was to fix the falses from taillights that some have complained about j/k


I guess both products are great. I just think a to upgrade the firmware for 25% of the original value is ridiculous. It's not like the radar guns troopers use change that quickly. I think you do get some added value with upgrading, but it's not as much as you would probably like for the price.


What do you guys think about the new GPS X50 that came out. Looks really nice and innovative. This has to be the only "smart" unit out there that eliminates the false alarms on routes that you travel daily. Not a bad idea.

 

I still don't think paying $75 is bad. You have to buy an entirely new unit at Cincinnati Microwave. $75 for the V1 upgrade, or $299 for the X50? To me, it was a no brainer. Those arrows are great. Use them for a while and you're hooked! Anyway....no need to argue about it, right?

I've heard the 9500i is good for "city" users. For the highway, give me the V1 or the X50. Then again, the new 9500i is said to be an X50 with GPS capability, so who knows. The folks at www.radardetector.net aren't overly impressed with the 9500i, so who knows?

I don't know---I think my next upgrade is a 2 or 4 sensor blinder laser jammer. I am happy with the radar sensitivity on the V1. Laser? No detector is good at laser. It just tells you when to be prepared to be pulled over.

Brake light issues and laser? Yea---try sitting behind a Chevy Trailblazer---yikes! My V1 goes nuts, even after the upgrade. Oh well, I guess I'd rather it be too sensitive on that bad.

Take care-
Shumax

 

i asked what my trade in value of my x50 was today for a 9500i...they said they'd give me 30 dollars for it hah

V1 here i come too

 

This is why you arent in marketing.

 

You know and I know, it's all bs Moonie.



Valentine engineer"
"Let's just correct our mistakes , and BTW make money on it.....how about charging $75 and call it an upgrade"